Iraqi forces struggle to dislodge ISIL militants during Mosul advance

World Today

Three-hundred U.S. soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division are due to depart for Mosul on Tuesday as part of an increased U.S. military presence to assist in the retaking of the city.

But on the ground, Iraqi forces are taking the brunt of the advance as they struggle to dislodge deeply embedded ISIL forces.

CGTN’s Tony Cheng spent the day with the Emergency Response Division, as they moved into Mosul’s Old City.

Iraqi helicopter gunships pound western Mosul with machine guns and rockets. Their target: ISIL positions embedded around the al-Nuri mosque. The security forces advance – making grim discoveries.

“This is their mortar factory. They also made suicide car bombs here and used it as a mortar position,” ‘Hussain’, an Iraqi Federal Police officer said.

Troops from the Emergency Response Division are leading the charge in this area. Fierce fighting has left its mark on Mosul railway station. It has swapped hands several times in the past week,but now seems secure.

And the ERD are closing in on their goal:  the al-Nuri Mosque – just down the road.